Electric power scrubber

• US 4,005,502 A
• Filed: 09/25/1975
• Issued: 02/01/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elaine Stevens
• Original Assignee: Elaine Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens (Boyer), Elaine
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/616,557
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 15/22 R, 15/22 A, 15/22 C, 15/49 RB, 15/50 A, 15/97 R, 128/46, 128/49, 51/170 R, 51/170 MT, 51/170 TL
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/12 with reciprocating or oscillating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers

Abstract

An electrically powered hand-held scrubber is disclosed which comprises a scrubbing brush removably attached to a sealed housing having a configuration adapted for a hand grip. Within the housing is a motor, preferably powered by rechargeable nickel cadmium storage cells which drives an eccentric. The eccentric produces an oscillating rotary motion which is communicated to the brush. The brush is moved in an oscillating back-and-forth rotary motion rather than a constant rotary motion, resulting in a more effective cleansing action. The brush has a generally triangular shape enabling it to fit into corners and other tight spots into which a circular brush cannot fit.

Claims

1. A power scrubber, which comprises:

a sealed housing;

a motor mounted within the housing having a rotary shaft;

an oscillatory shaft pivotally mounted in the housing, the oscillatory shaft extending from the housing and capable of revolving back and forth in an oscillatory manner;

a generally triangular-shaped brush body mounted on the oscillatory shaft, the brush body having a periphery of outwardly extending angularly disposed bristles about a generally triangularly shaped center of material extending from one side of said brush body and being capable of oscillating pivotally about the revolving oscillatory shaft axis, the said axis extending through said center material; and

means for oscillating the brush body about the oscillatory shaft axis which includes an eccentric rotatably mounted within the housing and rotated by the rotary shaft and a yoke fitting around the eccentric and producing an oscillatory motion as the eccentric rotates.

2. A scrubber according to claim 1 wherein said generally trianglularly shaped center of material is a set of bristles.

3. A scrubber according to claim 1 comprising in addition a rechargeable battery mounted within the housing operatively connected to the motor to supply power thereto.

4. A power scrubber, which comprises:

a sealed housing;

a motor mounted within the housing having a rotary shaft;

an eccentric rotatably mounted within the housing, which is rotated by the rotary shaft;

an oscillatory shaft pivotally mounted in the housing, the oscillatory shaft extending from the housing and capable of revolving back and forth in an oscillatory manner;

a generally triangular-shaped brush mounted on the oscillatory shaft capable of oscillating pivotally about the revolving oscillatory shaft axis; and

a plate mounted within the housing, said plate having an opening therein forming a yoke which fits around the eccentric and produces an oscillatory motion as the eccentric rotates, the oscillatory shaft being attached to the plate and revolving back and forth as the plate oscillates, the brush being oscillated by the back-and-forth rotation of the oscillatory shaft.

5. A power scrubber, which comprises:

a sealed housing;

a motor mounted within the housing having a rotary shaft;

an eccentric rotatably mounted within the housing, which is rotated by the rotary shaft;

an oscillatory shaft pivotally mounted in the housing, the oscillatory shaft extending from the housing and capable of revolving back and forth in an oscillatory manner; and

a generally triangular-shaped brush mounted on the oscillatory shaft capable of oscillating pivotally about the revolving oscillatory shaft, the body of the brush having an opening forming a yoke which fits around the eccentric and produces an oscillatory motion as the eccentric rotates, the brush being oscillated pivotally about the oscillatory shaft as the eccentric rotates, the amplitude and speed of the oscillation being determined by the configuration of the yoke.

6. A hand-held power scrubber which comprises:

a sealed housing having a configuration for a hand grip;

a rechargeable battery mounted within the housing;

a motor mounted within the housing and connected to receive electric power from the battery;

a switch mounted on the housing and extending therefrom which control the electric power to the motor;

a rotary shaft mounted in the housing, which is driven by the motor;

a reduction gear means mounted on the rotary shaft in the housing for producing a rotary motion at a speed slower than that of the rotary shaft;

an eccentric mounted within the housing to the reduction gear means which is rotated thereby at the slower speed;

a plate mounted within the housing at the bottom thereof, the plate having an opening therein forming a yoke which fits around the eccentric, the plate being oscillated by the rotation of the eccentric within the yoke;

an oscillatory shaft attached to the plate and pivotally mounted in the housing, the oscillatory shaft extending through an opening in the bottom of the housing and alternatingly revolving back and forth as the plate oscillates; and

a generally triangular-shaped brush having a body in which is a hole for removably mounting the brush on the oscillatory shaft to be oscillated as the oscillatory shaft revolves back and forth, and having a periphery of outwardly extending angularly disposed bristles mounted on the body about a generally triangular-shaped center set of bristles mounted on the body.

7. A hand-held power scrubber, which comprises:

a sealed housing having a configuration for a hand grip;

a rechargeable battery mounted within the housing;

a motor mounted within the housing and connected to receive electric power from the battery;

a switch mounted on the housing and extending therefrom which controls the electric power to the motor;

a rotary shaft mounted in the housing, which is driven by the motor;

a reduction gear means mounted on the rotary shaft in the housing for producing a rotary motion at a speed slower than that of the rotary shaft;

an eccentric mounted within the housing to the reduction gear means which is rotated thereby at the slower speed;

an oscillatory shaft pivotally mounted in the housing and extending through an opening in the bottom of the housing; and

a generally triangular-shaped brush having a body in which is a hole for removably pivotally mounting the brush on the oscillatory shaft, the body also having an opening forming a yoke which fits around the eccentric, the brush being oscillated about the oscillatory shaft axis by the rotation of the eccentric within the yoke, the amplitude and speed of the oscillation being determined by the configuration of the yoke, the body also having a periphery of outwardly extending angularly disposed bristles mounted on the body about a generally triangular-shaped center set of bristles mounted on the body.